Southern Wayne players have a chat near midcourt during a recent game. The Saints open the 2024 FCA Classic against Wayne Prep Academy on Friday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
One wouldn’t argue if organizers of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic changed its annual boys’ basketball holiday tournament to … oh, let’s say … the Wayne Country Day Invitational.
After all, the Chargers have claimed the last two Invitational crowns and five overall in seven attempts since 2014.
Not surprisingly, WCDS is the favorite again.
“We have to do all the little things — box out, don’t turn the ball over, contest shots [and] take good shots,” Chargers head coach Jeff Davis said. “We do those four things and we’ll be fine. We need to take as many shots as our opponent. Just keep doing what we’ve been doing.
“And we can’t assume we’re going to win [the Classic] because we have been [lately]. I know teams are going to want to beat us. We’ll get their best shot.”
The three-day, eight-team event begins Dec. 20 inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus.
Wayne Christian, the 2023 Invitational runner-up, meets Rosewood at 2 p.m.
Wayne Prep Academy and Southern Wayne tangle at 3:30 p.m. Wayne Country Day opposes North Duplin at 5:30 p.m, while James Kenan and Eastern Wayne square off at 7 p.m.
Second-round play is Saturday and championship day is Monday.
The schedule changed due to first-semester exams and the holidays falling on odd days.
“I think the tournament will be a little different than years past because there has been some dynamics change within in the teams in terms of who have graduated from last year,” said Ronnie Wise … “It will be difficult to determine to see who falls where. I guess we’ll see after the outcome of the tournament is done.
“Attendance last year? I felt it was good. Really like feel it will be even better this year. The economy is still tight, but right now there seems to be good things happening and folks seem to be a little more free [financial-wise] than last year.”
Admission is $10 per day. Tournament passes are not available. Fans who cannot attend the Classic in person may view it online through team1sports.com link. The fee is $10 for the entire tournament.
Alex King, assistant athletics director/media relations at UMO, and color analyst Alex Hayden will handle broadcast duties.
Drinks, candy and popcorn will be available at the concession stand inside the arena. The Skullies Street Q food truck will be available outside.
FCA furnishes dry-fit T-shirts to each player and gifts to the coaches. Players are fed after every game. Local restaurants provide lunch and dinner for coaches in the arena’s hospitality room.
“I love it every year,” Wise said. “We’re a local ministry and try to serve our community. At the end of the games, I have a speaker, usually someone local to help us with that. It’s a character/integrity-type message with a Bible base.
“We want to help these players and coaches to become better men not just on the court, but off the court. There is plenty of negative influence out there. Hopefully, we give them some tools that will help them in life and not just in basketball.”
Proceeds from the tournament benefit FCA.
Wise said “every penny raised” is distributed in a variety of areas – scholarships for team football camp, local youth leadership camp, local youth ministries and staff members who endure personal shortfalls.
“You have to remember we are missionaries, so we must raise funds to support us,” Wise said.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Winter Classic
(at Kornegay Arena, UMO)
Friday’s games
Game 1 — Wayne Christian (1-5) vs. Rosewood (2-2), 2 p.m.
Game 2 — Southern Wayne (1-4) vs. Wayne Prep Academy (9-3), 3:30 p.m.
Game 3 — North Duplin (0-3) vs. Wayne Country Day (11-3), 5:30 p.m.
Game 4 — James Kenan (1-2) vs. Eastern Wayne (5-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Game 5 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 6 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 23 games
Seventh Place
Game 9 — Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m.
Fifth Place
Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Third Place
Game 11 — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 5 p.m.
Championship
Game 12 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.
